What we're covering: Idea of Pickering casino revisited

Councillor calls for City to declare itself a willing host

PICKERING -- The idea of hosting a new casino in Pickering is returning to council.

Councillor David Pickles will be introducing a motion at the council meeting on Monday, Dec. 10 requesting staff report back on the anticipated financial benefits and other impacts if Pickering were to host a casino. The motion would also express council's support of revenue-sharing among Pickering, Ajax and Whitby, the three municipalities encompassed within the Province's C3 gaming zone.

Coun. Pickles calls the motion a preliminary move that he hopes will lead to revenue-sharing talks with Ajax, which currently collects about $7 million annually from Ajax Downs.

"The OLG's plan is to establish a gaming facility in the Ajax, Whitby, Pickering gaming zone, providing an opportunity to share a portion of revenues to municipalities expected to be over $10 million per year," Coun. Pickles said.

"Pickering taxpayers cannot afford to be left out of a fair share of the $10 million. We need to declare ourselves a willing host or we may be cut out of future opportunities to share in that money."

After Whitby declared itself a willing host over the summer, Ajax offered the municipality a 15-per cent annual share in revenues from Ajax Downs, or about $1 million, in exchange for Whitby not pursuing a casino. Although the offer was turned down by Whitby, Coun. Pickles said he hopes a similar agreement could be made between Pickering and Ajax.

"We need, on behalf of the City of Pickering, to explore non-tax revenue options on behalf of taxpayers," he said.

A previous motion to declare Pickering a willing host for a casino put forward in April by Coun. Kevin Ashe was voted down by council by a margin of four to three.